Using the Pacing Timer
The pacing timer gives you a live, visual read on whether you’re on schedule during a talk — no glancing at a separate stopwatch or clock needed.
Turning it on
- On the home screen, tap the gear icon to open Settings.
- Toggle Enable Timer on.
Once enabled, a time bar will appear at the top of your screen the next time you start a presentation.
Choosing a timer mode
There are two modes, found right below the Enable Timer toggle:
Duration mode
Set a total number of minutes (from 1 to 180). The timer counts down from that number starting the moment you tap Start Timer inside the presentation. Use this when you know how long your slot is (e.g., “I have a 20-minute talk”).
Finish By mode
Instead of a duration, set a specific clock time you need to be done by (e.g., 2:45 PM). SpeakerView calculates the remaining time by comparing the current time to your target, and automatically adjusts if you start a few minutes later than planned — there’s no need to recalculate your remaining minutes by hand if your start gets delayed. Use this when you’re speaking in a schedule with a hard end time (e.g., a conference session that must end by a specific time for the next speaker).
Starting the timer during your presentation
This is the step people forget most often: the timer does not start automatically when you open the presentation screen. Instead, a Start Timer button floats above the navigation controls. Tap it the exact moment you begin speaking — not when you first walk on stage or open the app. This keeps your pacing calculation accurate from your very first word.
Reading the pacing bar while you speak
Once started, SpeakerView shows two things compared against each other: how much of your time has elapsed, and how far through your cards you’ve progressed. The bar’s color tells you instantly whether you’re ahead, on pace, or behind — see Timer Bar Colors Explained for the full color guide and what to do about each one. A remaining-time readout (minutes:seconds) is also shown.
Tips for accurate pacing
- Practice a run-through first with the timer on, so you know roughly where you should be at the halfway point.
- In Duration mode, build in a small buffer — set a slightly longer duration than your target if you tend to get interrupted by questions or transitions, so minor delays don’t immediately show as “behind.”
- In Paginate overflow mode, remember that a single long card can become several pages — the pacing bar tracks pages, not just cards, so this is factored in automatically. See Text Is Too Small or Cut Off for how Paginate splits cards.